Israelis Spend More But Visit Malls Less on Election Day
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Israelis spent more money on election day but visited shopping malls 20% less than in 2022, according to Counterite data. Despite a 26.5% increase in debit card spending, shoppers opted for locations other than malls. Mall traffic was up 38% from the previous week but did not match previous election days. The public spent 52.5 million shekels more in the first three hours compared to the prior election.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli mall traffic dropped 20% by noon on election day compared to 2022.
- Debit card spending increased 26.5% on election morning, indicating shifts in shopping habits.
- Mall visits were up 38% compared to the previous Tuesday, but not previous elections.
- Israelis spent 52.5 million shekels more in three hours than on the previous election morning.
- Counterite data measures mall entries, not in-store spending amounts.
Despite a significant increase in spending on election day, Israelis visited shopping malls at a considerably lower rate compared to previous elections. Data from Counterite revealed a roughly 20% drop in mall traffic by noon on election day when compared to the same hours in 2022. However, mall visits were up by approximately 38% compared to the previous Tuesday, indicating that while the holiday status of election day draws more shoppers than a regular weekday, it fails to match the footfall of past elections.
This decline in mall visits is particularly notable given a 26.5% rise in debit card spending on election morning, suggesting that Israelis are continuing to shop but are choosing alternative locations. Eyal Glazer, CEO of Counterite, emphasized the importance of comparing the same malls and hours for accurate analysis, noting that election days present commercial opportunities for malls and retailers through special events and offers.
Counterite, which specializes in audience traffic measurement and analysis for clients like Ofer Malls, BIG Group, and Azrieli Malls, measures entries into shopping complexes. The data indicates that the public spent approximately 52.5 million shekels more within three hours compared to the morning of the previous election. Even when compared to the 2024 local authority elections, spending saw a 10.6% increase over the 226.81 million shekels spent during the equivalent hours.
